Hanging: U.K. Capital Punishment Legislation (1940’s-1950’s) | British Pathé

The era is the 1940’s-1950’s, the topic is capital punishment. Watch as United Kingdom lawmakers and the British public mull over the consequences of capital punishment, which ultimately leads to its eventual abolition.
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(FILM IDs: 1412.14, 2449.03, 535.08, 1519.11, 1581.05)
THE LAWBREAKERS - CRIME MONTH ON BRITISH PATHÉ (MARCH 2016): Newsreels of the Week: Hanging. Our final video for Crime Month looks at capital punishment - newsreels documenting the public and political reaction to hanging throughout the 1940s and 1950s, showing the increasing doubts over capital punishment that led to its eventual abolition in the United Kingdom.
Music:
"Black Vortex" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommon...
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BRITISH PATHÉ'S STORY Before television, people came to movie theatres to watch the news. British Pathé was at the forefront of cinematic journalism, blending information with entertainment to popular effect. Over the course of a century, it documented everything from major armed conflicts and seismic political crises to the curious hobbies and eccentric lives of ordinary people. If it happened, British Pathé filmed it.
Now considered to be the finest newsreel archive in the world, Briti
British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. www.britishpat...

[@rattywoof5259]

The big disadvantage of the death penalty is that if it turns out that a mistake has been made, you can't un-execute the victim. At least if a killer is jailed and it turns out that he/she is innocent, release is possible.

[@eddiejohnson5183]

I agree with capital punishment providing there is no doubt. CCTV, finger prints and DNA make conviction of an innocent person negligible. A murderer who is released from prison and kills again, is a preventable crime. No executed murderer has ever reoffended.

[@tenpc1751]

Eddie Johnson yeah but I feel like jail for the rest of your life is a worse punishment, the death penalty just ends it all but prison you have to suffer and watch people in the outside world build lives while your stuck

[@beltuna9]

The automobile industry murders 100 people every day in the USA. Not even war accomplishes that number

[@thatanoynomousdude8082]

Only if Alberto Einstein made a thing to un execute people Ik its not possible

[@martincook318]

I am 64 in December and a life long Abolitionist and I whole heartedly agree with you and what turned Me against the Death Penalty was Derick Bentley and look how long that tuck into clearing his name 45 Years and My Main fear is should the Death Penalty was ever bought back it could happen again to someone else who has got a disabled child and the death Penalty never stopped the Murders when we had Capital Punishment and even Albert Pierapoint turned against it,but what I do believe is that life should meen life in Prison and Make the Murders suffer in Prison and I've got every Sympathy for Victims of crime but for Me nothing has changed

[@nancycampbellgibson2634]

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

[@cliffordcasnermillar4976]

100 percent of people who are executed never commit another crime.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

A certain percentage of those who are executed never committed any crime; at any rate, certainly not a capital one.

[@Aidankiwi]

I suggest you google wrongful executions. 100% of people who are wrongfully executed due to, corrupt police, twisted judges misdirecting juries, and prosecution service withholding evidence from defence counsel and have their convictions quashed years later cannot be brought back from the grave.

[@andrewpartington4375]

You've got a point

[@jdsteppenzyde]

Clifford Casner Millar aa

[@itkapatanka]

Khayyam1048 yes, there was no murder when we had capital punishment as it works 100% as a deterrent.

[@mickshawforty]

No death penalty then life should mean life ,no release.

[@dmoore7519]

The gent at 6:00 has some good point on capital punishment.

[@ElSmusso]

Do you have something on the car crash in England which killed Eddie Cochran and crippled Gene Vincent? Around 1960...

[@JohnJohnson-zw1kd]

capital punishment is not nor ever was a deterrent to murder as it's sole objective: punishment.

[@bertiewooster3326]

Not quite true chum

[@locouk]

The nazi hangings should have been filmed only to document this part of history, I do agree, they should not have been screened at that time.

[@tomfournier4941]

There are films on here of those executions including some carried out by the Americans. The executions were filmed.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

The hangings should not have occurred at all, given: a) That the Soviet Union, then led by Stalin - a genocidal butcher - was one of the prosecuting nations at the Nuremberg Trials, thus hopelessly compromising the tribunals' integrity; b) The USA gave safe conduct there (and handsome salaries) to the Nazi scientists (at least as culpable as many of those on trial at Nuremberg) of "Operation Paperclip". Quite apart from that, capital punishment is barbaric and evil.

[@jbarnhart2653]

Some Nazi's fled to England ("Lord Hawhaw" for instance so they could escape European style hanging. No "drop", you were lowered or the rope pulled on...strangled slowly, and did the "funky chicken" until you stopped breathing. Yep they were all "filmed, but most in a way where you can't see much. No "finality" could be anyone with a hood. This film is not-quite subtle propaganda explaining how "good" and necessary capital punishment is. "Three failed attempts"...but they wouldn't be showing THAT even if they could...

[@petercdowney]

The case of Timothy Evans proved that the death penalty didn't work well, as once someone is dead, they won't be back.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Strictly speaking, it merely confirmed what sensible people already knew.

[@daviemccallum7759]

Yes it should have been shown

[@Aaardvark001]

Folk Revival in the UK love to see.that. I bet British Pathe' has a treasure trove of films, The Copper Family, McColl, Peggie Seagar, The rise in popularity of Traditional events since W2.

[@ElSmusso]

It would be rather pleasant to view some of the famous English race horses and races up through history. That's my suggestion. Thanx for a brilliant channel.

[@marcusreed3841]

We will eventually understand that capitol punishment is necessary.

[@petercdowney]

No we won't. Instead we will all understand that it doesn't work. Because it doesn't.

[@professorrosenstock5026]

Peter Downey I heard The UK got rid of it because an innocent person was hanged. This is my only problem with it.

[@nikhilsukumar23]

There have been cases where an innocent person was hanged, since he had the same name.

[@thatanoynomousdude8082]

👀

[@FenWolf68]

Did they really do jump-cuts in editing, too?

[@Bigbigchungus42069]

Ruth Ellis gives me goosebumps

[@geoeastes]

Love your videos.

[@TheNewBlaze]

Well dang. Maybe next month should be happy things.

[@normanlesley1867]

Sadley while i agree in principle with the death penalty i just do not trust the police.

[@avarmauk]

How is this footage so clear?

[@ConstantinIV]

It was shot in film reels. It was of a much higher quaity than later video, but they changed it because film was very expensive.

[@avarmauk]

ConstantinIV Oh I didn't know that.

[@macvatu]

Ghoulish fascination that hanging generates . . .weird really !! To stop it happening, once the court has found the accused guilty, nothing more should be revealed of where or when the hanging will take place . . .and then only the relatives informed afterwards . . . .!!

[@mikek4610]

Maciu Vatu actually it was a public display to let the community know what a horror it was as a deterrent...."kill and this will happen to you"..along with the horrors that go with it....the shitting and pissing of the pants...not snapping your neck dancing in air.....then the community turned it into a spectacle

[@alancollis488]

How about the introduction of UV light therapy from the 1950s?

[@bcgrote]

Of course, those that did commit murder after the hanging law was changed "merely" because they knew they wouldn't die from it are the type of criminal that probably shouldn't be allowed to live....

[@jdsteppenzyde]

Every murder should be considered an “outrage”.

[@rachelclark7782]

I used to be a supporter of the death penalty. I recently watched a documentary about the horrible things regular German citizens were subjected to after the war. They had the same exact things done to them that the Nazi party did to their victims. I had always heard my grandmother say that two wrongs don’t make a right and I finally understand how she meant it.

[@ahyes2375]

Rachel Clark That is both random and wrong

[@sirius-petrusse5716]

N’exagères pas certains responsables ont étés pendus mais la grande majorité des allemands seront bien traités. Il ne faut pas oublié que c’était la famine en Europe ,il fallait tout réorganiser et il n'y avait plus de services publics n'y de récoltes les prisonniers rentraient ils fallait les nourrir et les remettre au travail !!

[@johncahalane7327]

@@ahyes2375 She was trying to make the point here in a democratic country a totalitarian government is elected and starts to use the death penalty to remove political opposition, under the Nazis 42,000 people were executed 1933 to 1945 by The Peoples Court, take away the right to protest by taking away the right to live ,this happens today in China and Russia and other countries.

[@elizabetharmada5335]

But, if someone kill because he or she needed to defend themselves. They needed a close investigation. They should be given a chance to clear themselves

[@edwardhockin1127]

4:59. Bloody hell, that's Tardebigge. Been through there on my boat but never knew anything about a murder/suicide on a boat there!

[@johnjenkins4852]

Jeez - that music is trying.

[@Eric-ys8do]

News reports in the 50s were a bit dramatic like that

[@kennethkdj]

If it wrong to take a life, it is wrong in all cases, there can be no half measures. The death penalty was never a deterrent and today in America it still does not affect the crime rate. Life in prison is far more of a punishment than a quick exit from the world.

[@ItsIdaho]

My Grandmother is so lucky she was Born in 1946. After the WWII

[@hectorkeezy1499]

Funny and interresting to watch. They at some point talk about: "The murders of 1957". That was the year i was born. And the year the space age was born.looking back, the time have raced.

[@johnabrams8679]

At the Ruth Ellis execution in the crowd scene at 2.35, is the lady in the hat actress Irene Handl ? Looks mighty like her.

[@alisonlee3314]

It's Mrs Van der Elst. She campaigned against the death penalty.

[@WorkFromHomeFriday]

How about tech and car crashes?! How about the innovations in car safety?! Seat belts, head rests, etc.

[@Sennmut]

Archaeological discoveries?

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology

[@David-tz7tn]

bring it back

[@vincentreynolds934]

What, What-Old Boy.

[@hauntedmoodylady]

I suppose that 'minister/chaplain' would oppose capital punishment if the Almighty would give him the omniscience to see his murder. Would he want the murdered executed, before or after the murderer brought murder upon the forgiving chaplain; forgiveness the chaplain has no right to bestow in this world, or the next..

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The Bible gives plenty of scope for judicial killing.

[@peoakp]

Fundamentally, the principle of a life for a life is reasonably sound. However this must surely only be applied if all of those executed can be absolutely certain of being guilty. I'm not talking 99 out of 100, 999 out of 1,000, or even 9,999 out of 10,000. No I mean all. Once you allow for even the slightest chance of someone innocent being wrongly executed, capital punishment cannot be allowed to carry on. It's known as judicial murder by some people, get just one decision wrong and we become no better than the people we profess to be dealing with.

[@derekcoe9633]

Better a 1000 guilty escape justice than a single innocent be executed

[@johnknow4097]

Interesting fact. Ruth Ellis who never should have been hanged for a crime of passion was from Basingstoke in Hampshire, the same town from which the young nanny allegedly murdered by Lord Lucan was from.

[@johnknow4097]

Ellis was born in the Welsh seaside town of Rhyl, the third of six children. During her childhood her family moved to Basingstoke.

[@trainrover]

oof! dress habits sure were already different then between the BI and the USA

[@tjittekamminga5170]

what a shame

[@Popperite]

These hangings were botched.... By the Americans.

[@carolegriggs3107]

I think it is right that the death penalty was abolished. Perhaps not for the likes of Hitler and his henchmen, and other dictators like him, but I don't think Ruth Ellis should have been hung. If the movie about her is correct, she was unbalanced because of her love for David Blakely, who drove her out of her mind. Should a crime of passion not have had some kind of sympathy? A long jail sentence would have been more appropriate.

[@TheBespectacledN00b]

Carole Griggs The "battered wife defence" wasn't yet in existence at that time.

[@josephsomers7975]

Hanging is barbourous and due to legal process expensive!

[@MrTheknowabout]

"SHOULD A WOMEN BE HANGED" I ask why not.

[@elizabetharmada5335]

They took lives, I think it's just fair to take theirs. It's only my opinion. Because, it's unacceptable for the relatives of the victims seeing their love one lifeless, specially for the mothers.

[@sweiland75]

I'd rather live in a civilized society.

[@brightfilms8026]

Elizabeth Armada so do you agree that if a child commits murder they should be sentenced to death?

[@elizabetharmada5335]

Bright Films there is a law that apply for the children who committed crimes

[@brightfilms8026]

Elizabeth Armada I didn't ask that I asked if children should face the death penalty if they murder

[@elizabetharmada5335]

Bright Films no

[@graememorris7820]

We need to restore capital punishment; it is simply immoral to tax innocent people to keep those that pose a risk to society alive. However the system should be different from what was in place before, where many stupid young men who could have been rehabilitated were executed. Our system should be designed to inexpensively remove those that cannot be rehabilitated from the prison system, and neutralise the risk they pose to us. Those convicted of murder, but have no previous convictions for serious assault or attempted murder, should be given a chance to rehabilitate in gaol, but as well as a prison sentence , they should get a mandatory suspended death sentence , leaving court they should be well aware that if they ever commit as much as a serious assault ( including with knife, gun , acid, rape etc) again, even whilst in gaol, nothing will keep them from the gallows. Naturally second time killers - or those found guilty of multiple murders, should be put to death as soon as possible after any appeal has failed. If we adopted a code like this, it would take away the feeling of repugnance that we the people felt at the hangings of those such as Ruth Ellis and Derek Bentley. It would greatly reduce any chance of miscarriage and satisfy us that the criminal had been given a chance to change his ways , but had chosen to ignore the deterrent that had been vividly laid before him. Had a code like this been put in place in 1957 instead of the ridiculous one that was, it would have served us well, and possibly abolition would never have happened. It has been estimated that it costs £80,000 / year to keep a high security prisoner in a British jail. The jails are bursting at the seams with such people. To me it's a no brainer , money for old rope.

[@kevindunne9767]

trust a Labour government to abolish one true penalty against murder,

[@stephencressey1]

Why have the Tories NEVER reintroduced capital punishment .

[@petercdowney]

STEVE:- Because they oppose it. Of all the political parties in the UK, only the far right ones support the reintroduction of capital punishment.

[@johnirby8847]

Capital punishment should be reserved for only the most heinous offenders. Some people have done things so vile that the only justice is for them to die.

[@colinguest758]

The Comedians

[@wardyisbaconman8357]

Aviation

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

At the risk of being a nag, I would love a travel month! And I would also like to see you take up SVs suggestion below. A technology month. How antique technology fascinates me!

[@wardyisbaconman8357]

Aviation Aviation Aviation

[@jazzman1626]

So they actually wondered if it should be abolished for women. And I thought gender bias in law was a fairly recent thing!

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

1:35 is that man alright? I genuinely don’t get why he said “sentence him” there. Truly bizarre even for the time, because women can be criminals too. It’s not even a modern thing, it’s just common sense. Considering women have been hanged in history it’s just strange.

[@modigbeowulf5482]

It doesn't matter if it's a deterrent or not! Execute them for murder.

[@justinwatson4792]

should bring it back today. If anyone killed someone related to me Id INSIST on it.

[@rogermoore27]

so what if the murderer is a woman? What kind of question is that?

[@cockaheuck1534]

It doesn't matter what age & erea. But scentless act violent need to shown an example

[@Ben_306]

I'll say this on the debate: If capital punishment was an effective deterrent to murder, it would never actually be carried out.

[@NoName-vi3fq]

Bento The “special deterrent” was 100 % A hanged man committed no more crimes. anyhow: it was a deterrent to some individuals and self-evidently it was unconvincing to others. Most criminals don’t act in the expectation of being caught and punished.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@NoName-vi3fq that not a deterrent. How does the execution of one killer ever deter the next?

[@wardyisbaconman8357]

Aviation

[@Lellobeetle]

I think it should have been recorded as a reminder for those who would have any ideas of walking in those genocidal war mongering footsteps.

[@Pluggit1953]

How about the polio outbreak in the 50s?

[@bigrobnz]

amazing how a murder was so rare and shocked people....now a murder has to be either multiple or of exthreme violence even to get a mention.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Murder was rare because you had a homogeneous population, virtually full employment and no Second- or Third-Wave Feminism. It was a society with high social capital, and largely policed itself. The death penalty was a barbaric vestige from the past, preserved because of the inertia of our institutions then, and shielded from, public scrutiny. (These days, our institutions have gone to the opposite extreme and are undergoing perpetual revolution.)

[@Cromwelldunbar]

What are thoughts on the murderer of poor John Lennon? The murderer is now out of prison: how does he earn his living? Has he any sense of moral conscience? Who cares to listen to his stories?

[@GuyThatAlex]

Have these films been made recently, or are they primary sources?

[@britishpathe]

The compilations are recent - but the clips that make it up and the commentaries within them are all vintage. All best, BP

[@GuyThatAlex]

@@britishpathe brilliant. Thank you.

[@Imachickenlol]

Murder

[@bengunns9500]

Now we have gone from one extreme to another, Letting Prisoners out early to reoffend for example the case of Leah Croucher.

[@farley1107]

I'd rather watch movie reviews rather than soda testing, candy testing, etc...but then again, I'm old

[@3345-p9g]

next week I firmly believe that the theme should be about Ports/shipping of the Royal Navy!

[@mikee6220]

Maybe something concerning religion in the 50s and 60s

[@goneutt]

No one associated the increase or decrease in violence with the adoption and rejection of leaded gasoline.

[@shahidkhattak9238]

unjust in history to German staff

[@patriotares]

Consistency, consistency, consistency... Without it no punishment will EVER be a deterrent!

[@sirius-petrusse5716]

Au moyen age ,il y avait la roue et de nombreuses tortures, on coupait la main du voleur nos élites magouilles,il y en a un qui se fait prendre les doigts dans le pot de confiture on pourrait penser que cela calmerait les autres que nenni sa repart de plus belle; tu vis sur quelle planète Tim ou les élites devraient donner l'exemple ou lieu de faire des lois pour s'enrichir et se protéger!

[@roccovitiello7031]

They should be shown

[@jamesdowsett5199]

Robert Kennedy

[@shintarowatari41]

Yes! During Germans killing people they exposed all brutality they did to millions of people . This film should play daily to help the people FAMILY victim ease the pain and justify the war events happened WW2 both side will be reminded the consequences of that event . War is not the answer! But universal kindness" us humanity

[@guydecervens]

I would like to see the 'evidence' from Nuremberg. There are a great many matters that don't add up but apparently it is illegal to discuss them. Why is that?

[@andrewpartington4375]

do you wear a brownshirt?

[@guydecervens]

***** I wear Hugo Boss shoe too : ) Long sole bro

[@guydecervens]

***** Yeah, the SS were snappy dressers, I'll give them that. Volkswagen, Krups, IBM, Standard Oil, Ford, Siemens, Kodak and lots of other firms collaborated with the German National Socialist Workers Party too.

[@kb-zealot]

"should it be set aside because the murderer is a woman?". Yes, it's just wrong to execute women. But otherwise, if there is a high degree of confidence and the murder is particularly heinous, then I believe execution is best, even if some of the condemned are innocent Edit: because some of the most stupid (like the second person who replied) may misinterpret, or pretend to misintereret my last statement, I shall clarify it further, spelling it all out: The justice system is not completely accurate, so having execution as a punishment means that some who are executed will be innocent. This is bad but not so bad that we should get rid of execution.

[@kb-zealot]

@TheRenaissanceman65 I believe in gender equality in most regards, like the laws against discrimination against women which require equal pay for the same job for example. But the genders aren't the same, and some things shouldn't be allowed. I also believe that the military shouldn't allow women in active combat roles. I believe in gender equality but with consideration for avoiding violence against women. And I imagine that many feel the same way as I do

[@ohidontknow1061]

Are you seriously suggesting that you would happily kill innocent people? I'm sure you'll try the "victims are innocent" argument but, to say execution is best even if innocent is bonkers.

[@kb-zealot]

​@@ohidontknow1061 "happily"? no. I'd do it because the vast majority (mass-murderers, serial killers, etc.) would deserve to die, and because it would act as a deterrent. It's also wrong to jail innocent people, but it must be done in order for the justice system to work, for now.

[@kb-zealot]

@TheRenaissanceman65 As long as that's the case, then I agree that scrapping it is necessary, but unfortunate

[@ohidontknow1061]

@@kb-zealot Yes, killing an innocent person, as you suggest, would be a great deterrent, wouldn't it? What you are saying is look at what we do to innocent people just wait until we catch someone who actually broke the law..... If that's what you are going to do why not just pick someone at random and kill them? If you are sending someone who is innocent, as you state, to their death why bother with a trial? You are saying you would kill an innocent because there are people who deserve to die. That's a well thought out and logical argument.......